The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, in partnership with AmCham Abu Dhabi, hosted a luncheon discussion to welcome the incoming U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Andrew M. Clark on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at the Rosewood Abu Dhabi. Incoming Chief of the Office of Defense Partnership Colonel Matthew T. Ballanco also joined the discussion.
At lunch, BG Clark and Col. Ballanco engaged with prominent U.S. business leaders concerning U.A.E. defense priorities and cooperation with the U.S. defense industry. Highlights of the conversation included:
- The current state of the special defense relationship between the U.S. and the U.A.E., including key U.A.E. priorities after the 12-Day War in June 2025.
- An update on the status of the “Major Defense Partnership” agreement of May 2025. This agreement represents a shared commitment to develop a structured roadmap that will guide enhanced military-to-military cooperation, joint capability development, and long-term defense alignment between the two nations.
- The Foreign Military Sales partnership, including licensing and export regulations.
- The current state of play with regard to the U.A.E. Defense Offset Policy.
- Priority topics for the upcoming Joint Military Dialogue discussion later this month in Washington, DC.
- The role of AI and advanced technologies in the defense sector.
- Plans for the Dubai Airshow scheduled to take place in November 2025.
For more information about the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s defense programming, please contact Faria Nasruddin at fnasruddin@usuaebusiness.org and read “An Enduring Partnership: The U.S.-U.A.E. Defense and Security Relationship.”
